The cloud and me

Selfportrait on the rocky beach of Granja, south of Porto, Portugal.

A story behind:  It was almost the sunset. I set a 30 seconds dalay and the camera shot a series of photos  with a one to three-seconds exposure.

Lack of polarizer didn´t allow me to remove the glare from the rocks while creating this dreamy long exposure photograph.

There was a thunderstorm on the horizon and the cloud went interestingly iluminated by the dying sun.

Gear: Nikon D700. Nikkor 16-35 mm. Tripod.

Aperture: f/18

Shutter speed: 3 sec

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 200

Place taken: Granja, Portugal.
 

Date taken: Tuesday, December 25th 2012, 17:06

Maciek.

The clouds have finally appeared

The Granja port lighthouse.

A story behind: The sunset over the Atlantic ocean with heavy clouds, low tide, rocks and quiet sea observed from the mouth of the small fishermen port of Granja.


Gear: Nikon D700. Nikkor 16-35 mm. Tripod. ND 0.6. Standing and taking photo from one of the most furthermost rocks of the shoreline accessible by foot.

Aperture: f/22

Shutter speed: 12 sec

Exposure bias: -0.7 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 50

Place taken: Granja beach, Portugal.

Date Taken: Sunday, February 5th, 2012, 18: 00

Maciek.

The sea stairs of Granja

Veteran outdoor photographer a.k.a me, standing on the stairs leading to the sea,
December 2011.

A story behind: After surviving harsh weather conditions that night me and my camera easily could be called "veterans of outdoor photography". High winds, 100% humidity, the waves crashing all over my body, camera and tripod with a dramatic sky and an approaching storm ( look left upper corner ) above not too mention a necessity of cleaning the lenses every 2 shots - these were the weather conditions I encountered that night when I shoot this photo.
I additionally used the ND 0. 5 filter to smooth out ripples on the sea caused by high winds during the longer exposure.
I used B&W technique. In general images with very colourful elements work best when presented in full colour. I found that photos with strong textures, interesting patterns, and/or stormy spotlighting make excellent black and white photographs. It is all about contrasts -- when I'm working with shades of Gray I'm relying heavily on contrast to develop a successful image.


Gear: Nikon D700. Nikkor 16-35 mm. ND 0.5 filter.

Aperture: f/22

Shutter speed: 1 sec

Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 19 mm

ISO: 200

Place taken: Granja, Portugal.

Date Taken: Sunday, December 11th, 2011, 17: 24

Maciek.

A conversation

Two people taking over the beach stairs at Granja, Portugal Atlantic coast. Winter weather and wild sea below. Photographed on Monday early afternoon.

Location: Granja, Portugal Coast.

Gear: Nikon D80

Aperture: f/22 Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: Monday, December 20th, 2010, 16:27

Maciek.

The lone red light

A lonely red light lighthouse standing starkly against winter sea and sky. Photographed at the small fishermen´s port of Agueda, Portugal Atlantic coast. Sunday night.

Location: Agueda, Portugal Coast.

Gear: Nikon D80, ND soft 0.6, a tripod standing in the water.

Aperture: f/25 Exposure bias: - 1/3 EV

Focal Length: 13 mm

ISO: 200

Date Taken: Sunday, Dezember 19th, 2010, 18:19

Maciek.

Wednesday evening

Atlantic coast during low tide. On the horizon distant lights of the Espinho coast city can be seen.

A late afternoon stroll on the beach somewhere between Granja and Espinho ( Portuguese Atlantic coast ). The low tide reveals strange rocky formation. The low tide-high tide amplitude can reach as much as 4 meters. Although we have been living by the cost and seeing tides for more than 11 years, predicting the exact time of low and high tide can be tricky. It depends on ever varying Earth–Sun and Earth–Moon distances, coastal line, sea depth ect. Location: Granja, Portugal Coast.

Gear: Nikon D80, ND soft 0.6, ND 0.3 hard, tripod

Aperture: f/25 Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 13 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: December 1st, 2010, 18:07

Maciek.